TexAmericas Center

Year Submitted: 2011

Process: Water Treatment

Industry: Redevelopment Authority

Wastes Reduced: Sludge

Location: New Boston TX

No. of employees: 22

Contact: Nate Hahm

Phone: 903-223-9841

Description:

There is a tremendous amount of sludge generated while using lime as part of the water treatment process for flocculation and removal of suspended solids and turbidity. We have noticed a 25-50% reduction in the amount of sludge generated by eliminating lime and using caustic soda.

P2 Application:

We evaluated the amount of lime needed to precipitate and remove suspended solids from raw water and the amount of sludge generated. We compared that with the chemical needs and sludge generated when using caustic for that process. We found that using caustic instead of lime generates less sludge and fees due to sludge hauling and disposal. We also found a savings in chemical costs. The change in treatment chemicals required new chemical feed equipment at a cost of about $23,500.

• Total Cost Savings: $47,000.00
• Comments: Next reporting year we anticipate to be classified as a Small Quantity Generator instead of a Large Quantity Generator of hazardous waste. This will reduce reporting requirements. $45,000 was saved on sludge hauling and disposal. $2,000 in savings are due to the reduced material usage when comparing the cost of lime to caustic. Payback period for the project was about 6 months.

Details of Reductions

• 280,000.0 - Gallon of   Water Treatment Sludge
  

Additional Information :

TexAmericas Center was created in 1998 as a local redevelopment authority. As a result of BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) 1995 and 2005, TexAmericas Center acquired over 10,000 acres from the US Army to redevelop. The Army also transferred the utility operations to TexAmericas Center.

Source: TCEQ